When Rami Ghanem walked into the Central Branch of the Kansas City Public Library, he entered as a permanent resident.
But when he walked out, he was as a US citizen.
"You have more potential here," said the Jordan-born Kansas Citian who has lived in the U.S. since 2003. "You can do whatever you want in this country. Opening businesses, finish education, everything what you want you can do."
The library swore in 113 U.S. citizens.
For the first time ever the Kansas City Public Library hosted a naturalization ceremony where 113 people from 45 nations became Americans.
"They have a want and a need to become citizens and that's really exciting," said Julie Robinson, the refugee and immigrant services outreach manager at the Kansas City Public Library.
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The library assists people on the path to citizenship along every step of the way, from learning what books to study so they can prepare for their immigration exams, to swearing them in to be Americans, much like we saw on this day.
"I just want them to be great citizens and know they worked really hard to do this and to take advantage of all of it. We have a great country," said Robinson.
As for Ghanem, he wants to bring the rest of his family, especially his children who live in Jordan, to Kansas City, something that he will be able to do now that he's an American.
"I feel good," he said. "As citizen, you can vote, you can get work at some places, and the most important, I can apply for my kids to come here, to finish education, to get better education, and better life too."
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